If I was the type of person to make New Year’s resolutions, this year one of them would’ve been to buy more “investment” pieces, as opposed to wandering into Primark to buy tights and walking out with half the store*. I’d have done quite well with that resolution too: partly because it’s still only January 11th (and I mean, SERIOUSLY? Does anyone else feel like it should be, say, pay day by now?) and it’s hard even for me to break resolutions by then, but also because my one and only purchase from this year’s sales was this J Crew coat. Well, I’ve been looking for a coat this colour for… oh, FOREVER, basically… so when they released a “30% off sale items” code on Boxing Day, I didn’t even hesitate.

(Well, OK, I actually DID hesitate. I hesitated for so long, in fact, that my family all started yelling at me to “REMEMBER THE ZARA SHOES”* – long story – and now none of them want to hear the words “J Crew coat” ever again. Which is a shame, because I have my eye on at least six more of them. And I WILL talk about them.)

(*I ordered a pair of shoes in last year’s Zara sale, which started on Boxing Day. They were shoes I’d been planning to buy for months, and they reduced them by so much I knew they’d sell out if I didn’t act fast, so I did. But I didn’t get a shipping confirmation, and when I logged back into my account, there was no record of the order. So I went back to the website to order them again, and of course, they were sold out. OF COURSE THEY WERE. Well, I freaked the hell out. So much so that the phrase “Zara shoes” is still code in our house for “Amber is a little brat.” Then I paced around the house complaining and refreshing the site at regular intervals, and after about five hours of this, lo! The shoes came back in stock. So I ordered them. And this time I DID get an order confirmation. I also got TWO PAIRS OF THE SAME FREAKING SHOES, because yes, the first order HAD been registered, even although there was no record of it. And that’s why I’m not allowed online on Boxing Day any more without adult supervision.)

Luckily there was no repeat of the “Zara shoes” situation this time: the coat arrived, I loved it, and will cherish and wear it for the rest of my life. Or until J Crew has another sale, anyway…

*I will still do that occasionally, though. This is why I didn’t ACTUALLY make any resolutions: they’re just made to be broken…

30 Comments

It’s well worth it I think, it looks beautiful.
I’ve done the same waiting game to the same end, just now in fact. I found several ankle boots on sale and was agonizing over which pair to buy so long that they both(!) sold out in my size. -.-
Ordered a size up to see if it could work, but I am afraid I’ve lost the option, especially as I can’t afford either pair non-discounted.

Would just like to say I’ve enjoyed the frequent updates here lately, I read everyone, as well as shoeperwoman and enjoy your Instagram feed, but haven’t been up to commenting lately. Sorry.
But I’m here, reading and enjoying.

Thanks for saying that – I’ve noticed the comments have dropped recently, and I was a bit worried the lack of posts over December made everyone give up! I’m trying to get back into a more regular schedule again, so glad to hear it’s appreciated

That coat is absolutely gorgeous. I don’t know about you, but if I find a dress or top that I’m not sure about, but it’s green, then I will almost certainly buy it because it looks so great with my red hair!
Bemsy x
http://redheadtalkin.blogspot.co.uk

I am so relieved that I am not the only one that thinks hitting refresh a billion times, and with emphasis I might add, will effectively change the contents of an online shopping site. Maybe it’s a redhead thing.
Very pretty colour on you today Amber!

That was the advice given to me recently when I phoned Topshop to ask why they were still showing my size on the web page but I couldn’t put them in my basket – “jjst keep refreshing, it should sort it out”.
Eventually I’m glad to report that it did and I now have another pair of shoes to house.

Funny that you mention this resolution, I have sort of the same thing with making clothes at the moment. This year I want to stop speeding through the process just to have a new dress by the end of tha day, which felt like the sewing equivalent of a trip to h&m. I have a few projects planned that will take a lot of time, effort and hand-sewing, including a coat and an embroidered dress, and I won’t be skipping steps!

That is a lovely coat by the way, another reminder that I should start looking for more green fabrics…

If ever there was a good new years resolution to make this is certainly one for me too. I really have an addiction to quantity over quality shopping and I really should invest in some classic pieces, after all I am 32 this year (oh my god, even writing that down sends me into a mild panic)

The 3 for £29.99 on LOVEfashion has now ended, I was just about to go on and buy some more too, booo hooo. I should have just gotten two lots of 3 items in the first place!

The coat is beautiful by the way I can see why you needed to have it. Lovely colour.

PS I just watched Confessions of a Shopaholic (I have seen it a few times before but this is the first time I have watched it since I have been a reader of your blog) and she soooo reminds me of you, obviously not the in debt and out of control spending bit haha, but the fact that she actually looks a bit like you, is obsessed with fashion, is a writer and is hilarious. I love that film!

Oh gosh, I love that movie too – in fact, I actually dressed as her for Halloween one year, I liked it so much! And I know it’s really sad to admit, because it’s just a comedy and is obviously very exaggerated, but I actually really relate to her character in it: I don’t get into debt for shopping, but I do exactly the same thing where I will find something and convince myself that I cannot live without it, and that my life will be completely changed by it (“And then I’ll be The Girl in the Green Scarf!”). There’s a moment where she’s trying to talk herself out of buying some Gucci gloves, and she goes, “But they’re gloves! And I have… hands!” -I laughed so much

Ha ha! I watched this over Christmas, and it made me think of you as well Amber, for the same reasons! Although, I did think it was a bit harsh that she had to sell ALL HER CLOTHES at the end. I mean, the hell?!

Anyway, I love the coat! I did all of my sale shopping before Christmas (four pairs of shoes cough cough) so I haven’t been that interested in the sales. But I do wish January was over!

I know! You’re supposed to be all, “YAY! She overcame her shopping addiction!” but all I can think is “WHAT WILL SHE WEAR?” And I mean, her fashion sense was nuts, but she had some amazing stuff – she could surely have kept some of it!

Haha the bit with the gloves is one of the best lines (of many great lines) from the film Did you take photos of you dressed up as her for the blog? I would love to see them, I bet it was an easy dress up for you.

I actually just ordered the DVD from eBay because I have been watching it on Netflix and Mr Bertie informed me that they eventually take films off there to make room for new ones, I panicked about my shopaholic fix lol.

I wonder if they will make films of the follow up books? That would be amazing!

hhaa loved reading this Amber! That is indeedy a fabulous coat – I LOVE the colour (I’m a very colourful person myself!) I just wosh more people wore colourful coats – It’s grey and black enough in winter!
Goes with your hair perfectly. Think I need to invest!